Football: Late penalty hits Llandyrnog United FC

Aug 20 2008 By Dave Jones

LLANDYRNOG UNITED 0 LLANGEFNI TOWN 1

CYMRU ALLIANCE LEAGUE

A CONTROVERSIAL penalty given late into injury time by referee John Spender decided this opening league game of very few chances at Cae Nant.

Experienced overlapping Llangefni full- back Lee Dixon fell in the box from an innocuous challenge by Danny Roberts and Kevin Lloyd, following protracted protests, finally dispatched the spot-kick to clinch the points right at the death.

The home side did not deserve to lose as they had matched their illustrious opponents throughout with effort, endeavour and tempo, both keepers having quiet afternoons as both midfields battled for supremacy.

The Dyrny quartet of Jason Wood, Tom Evans, Tom Sharples and Danny Roberts gave their opponents no time and as a result Llangefni were forced to play the ball backwards and then hit their tall forwards, especially Danny Glyn Roberts, whom the tenacious Geraint Jones kept quiet throughout the game.

The best chance for the home team came after 30 minutes when Endaf Jones anticipated a back pass from Mark Orme but he was forced wide by keeper Paul Whitfield and his shot from the narrowest of angles was cleared off the line by the covering Geraint Mitchell.

Llangefni had their best period just before half time when they forced a number of corners, one of which was cleared off the line by Tom Wilcox-Jones from a Dylan Owen effort as the half finished off goal-less.

The pattern of the second half was very similar with both sides working hard for a sniff at goal.

New signing Elfyn Roberts led the home line well but had no change from the experienced Cefni defence with skipper Graham Austin in commanding form while Adam Lloyd for the host team kept his namesake Kevin quiet.

Dylan Owen fired a free-kick well over the home goal and a cross from a narrow angle by Kevin Roberts ran across the bar before being cleared, then Wilcox-Jones blocked another effort from Roberts in the six-yard area.

The villagers forced a number of corners on the left and after one scramble the ball was hacked off the line by Orme, Tom Evans shot well wide and substitute Ian Dunn was beaten by the offside flag as he broke clear.

As time ran out both sides seemed content with the draw which would have been a fair result but in the last seconds fate took a turn and Llangefni were gifted a chance to win the game from the spot which Lloyd took.

Dyrny can take pride from their efforts for they will play a lot worse than this and win while Llangefni start the season with three points as they aim to return to the Welsh Premier at the first attempt.